Stock-loader.



W1 TNESSES:

W. S. BOURNB.

PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

STOCK LOADER.

APPLIOATION FILED muso. 1906.

[/VVENTOR A TTOR/VE VS WVILLIAM S. BOURNE, OF AFTON, IOTVA.

STOCK-LOADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

TPatented April 30, 1907.

Application filed July 30, 1906. Serial No. 328,456.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. BOURNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Afton, in the county of Union and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Stoek- Loader, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a stock loading device whereby hogs, sheep, cattle, and the like, can be loaded into a wagon or car in a simple and convenient manner, and it relates more particularly to apparatus of this character in which a liftable pen platform is employed.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a pen platform into which any desired number of stock can be driven, while in its lowered position, and which can be conveniently raised to the level of the wagon or car floor for the loading of the stock into the latter.

A further object of the invention is the employment of a simple means whereby the platform can be actuated by the wagon into which the stock is to be loaded.

Another object is to provide a novel means for mounting the platform so that the same can be simultaneously advanced and elevated and to provide a device for automatically holding the platform in an elevated and advanced position during the unloading of the stock. And the invention has for a further object the provision of a stock loading device of simple and improved construction and which is thoroughly reliable and convenient in operation.

i/Vith these objects in view, and others, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wlnch illustrates one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the stock loading device and the rear portion of a wagon into which the stock are to be loaded, the full line position of the parts corresponding to the lowered posi tion of the platform and the broken line position corresponding to the elevated position of the latter. Fig. 2 is an end view of the open end of the device showing the pen plat form in its elevated position.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference. 1, r,

Referring to the drawing, A designates the house or inelosure of the device, the same being preferably of rectangular form and of any desired size according towhether the device is to be used for loading small or large stock. In the present instance, I have elected to illustrate the invention as a hog loader, but I desire to have it understood that the principles of the invention can be carried out in other modified. forms within the scope of the invention. One end of the house A is open and double swinging doors B of anyapproved form are provided to close the house when the device is not in use. Mounted within the house or inelosure A is a pen platform C comprising a floor 1, and side and end walls 2 and 3, respectively. The details of construction of the platform are immaterial and they may be modified to suit any given case. The pen platform is mounted to swing on two pairs of parallel links 4, each pair being arranged at the side of the platform and disposed between the bottom of the latter and house. The upper and lower ends of the links 4 are pivoted, respectively, to the sills 5 and 6 of the platform and house. hen the platform is in its lowered position, the sills 5 rest upon the sills 6, and the links incline rearwardly from their lower pivots, as shown in Fig. 1. By means of the links, the platform C can be simultaneously raised and advanced or projected out of the open end of the house to the position indicated by broken lines in F 1. The front wall 3 of the pen platform is provided with an opening 7 through which the stock enter and leave. If desired, this opening may be provided with a door 8 hinged at its lower edge so as to swing downwardly, that will serve as an incline, indicated by dotted lines at 9, Fig. 1, for the stock to travel on to enter the pen platform, and as a bridge to extend from the pen platform to the wagon, as indicated at 10, for the stock to pass over in loading. For holding the door 8 closed during the elevating of the pen platform, a suitable fastening, such as a button, 11, may be employed, for engaging the free end of the same.

In order to elevate the pen platform, two ropes or cables 12 are employed, each running along one side of the device, preferably on the interior thereof. Each rope at its rear end is rigidly secured to a suitable anchor device 13, Fig. 1, at the rear of the platform. From here, the rope extends upwardly and passes over a pulley 14 arranged at the top of the house A near the middle thereof, thence passing under the pulley 15 on the front end of the pen platform. From the pulleys 15, the front ends of the ropes extend through slots 16 in the front wall 3 of the platform. and are hooked or otherwise suitably secured to the ends of a cross bar 17 in the nature of a .whilfletree.

tened, as by means of a rope 18 or the like, to

the rear axle 18 or other suitable part of the wagon, so that the horses may be employed for elevating the platform. Owing to the fact that the pen platform swings or moves in a curvilinear path, and the wagon travels forwardly in a straight line, a gap is necessarily produced between the front end of the platform and the rear of the wagon when the platform is fully elevated and advanced, as shown by the dotted line position. Hence the door indicated at 10, Fig. 1, or some other suitable means, must be employed for bridging the distance between the platform and wagon so that the stock can pass. The movement of the platform is limited by stops 19 with which the extension 20 of the rear end wall 3 abuts when the platform reaches its full elevated position.

The pen platform is held in its raised position by a suitable lock or latching mechanism that is preferably set automatically. One

of several simple forms of lock mechanism comprises a downwardly and forwardly inclined rod 21 located between the floors of the platform and house and pivoted at its rear end to the underside of the platform. The latch rod 2 1 is disposed in the longitudinal center line of the apparatus and normally rests at its free forward end on the floor of the house. Its free end is provided with a notch or shoulder 22, and from the notch an upwardly curved cam-shaped surface 23 is provided. The extremity of the cam 23 is located above the upper edge of the front sill 24 on the house, so that as the latch rod 21 is moved forwardly during the upward movement of the platform, the cam 26 will eventually strike the rear upper edge of the sill 24, and thus cause the front end of the latch bar to be raised. As the platform continues to move'to its extended position, the cam 23 rides over the top surface of the sill 24 and permits the shoulder 22 to automatically drop in front of and interlock with the front surface of the sill 24. The platform will thus be held positively in an elevated position. To release the latch bar, it is merely necessary to raise the free end of the same by means of the hand or foot and thereby disengage the shoulder 22 from the sill. After this has been done, the wagon can be backed and the platform gradually lowered to its normal position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and method of operation and advantages thereof, it is believed, will be clearly understood, so that further description is deemed unnecessary.

I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that various changes maybe made, when desired, as are within the scope of the invention.

l/Vhat is claimed is 1. A stock loading device comprising a platform, an inclosure therefor, means arranged to bodily elevate the patform, a stop on the inclosure arranged in the path of the platform for limiting the forward movement thereof and a mechanism exterior to the inclosure and arranged to exert a pull in a direction away from the inclosure for elevating the platform on the said-means.

2. A stock loading device comprising an inclosure open at one end, a platform supported to swing in and out of the open end of the inclosure, and a flexible element connected with the platform and having a free end adapted to be attached to a vehicle for moving the platform into operative relation to the vehicle. V

3. A stock loading device comprising a platform, an inclosure therefor which is open at one end, a stop on the side of the inclosure for limiting the upward movement of the platform parallel links for mounting the platform on the bottom of the inclosure and for permitting the platform to be simultaneously elevated and advanced through the open end of the. inclosure, and mechanism for actuating the platform, said mechanism comprising longitudinally movable members connected with the platform, guides for the members, and means exterior to the inclosure for actuating the members.

4. A stock loadingdevice comprising a platform, means for movably mounting the platform, flexible elements for actuating the platform, and a draft mechanism connected with the elements and movable back and forth at the front end of the device.

5. A stock loading device comprising a pen platform mounted to move bodily in a curvilinear path, an inclosure for the same, means for movably mounting the platform within the inclosure, flexible elements connected with the platform and extending exterior to the inclosure for actuating the former, a cross member at the front of the inclosure connected with the elements, and

IIS

a flexible element connected with the cross member.

6. A stock loading device comprising a pen platform, a structure in which the same is located, parallel links for mounting the platform in the structure, means for elevating the platform by means of the links, a device for automatically holding the platform in an elevated position, and a stationary stop in the structure for limiting the forward movement of the platform and cooperating with the said device for preventing the platform from moving in either direction.

7. A stock loading device comprising an inclosingstructure open at one end, a door for closing said end, and a liftable platform ar ranged within the inclosure and movable to an elevated position extending partly from the open end.

8. A stock loading device comprising a box-shaped pen platform having an opening at one end and mounted to have a swinging movement, a structure supporting the platform and open at one end to permit the latter to swing in and out of the same, and doors at the open end of the structure.

9. A stock loading device comprising a liftable pen platform, a mechanism for actuating the same, and means for connecting said mechanism to a vehicle whereby the latter moves the platform into operative relation to the vehicle for loading the stock.

10. A stock loading device comprising a platform forming a pen with an opening at one end, means on which the platform swings, flexible elements connected with the platform and extending through the front end thereof, means for guiding the movement of the elements, a device for connecting the free ends of the elements for actuating the platform, and means for connecting the said device with a vehicle to elevate the platform into operative relation by a forward movement of the vehicle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM S. BOU RNE.

Witnesses:

JonN PAULUS, J. A. FLUoKEY. 

